Shortstop Jacob Wilson suffered a left shoulder sprain during the Athletics’ 2-1 loss to the Orioles today, as Wilson dove to cut off a Gunnar Henderson infield single just as the ball reached the outfield. Wilson was in immediate discomfort and had to quickly hand the ball to second baseman Jeff McNeil, before Wilson left the game following a visit from team trainers.
A’s manager Mark Kotsay told MLB.com’s Ian Quillen and other media after the game that “we’ll have more imaging tomorrow and have further details on the timeline for” Wilson, and Quillen noted that Wilson was seen in the clubhouse wearing a sling on his left arm. It seems inevitable that Wilson will hit at least the 10-day injured list, and the shortstop’s season could potentially be in jeopardy depending the severity of the sprain.
After hitting .311/.355/.444 with 13 homers in 523 plate appearances and finishing second in AL Rookie of the Year voting in 2025, Wilson received a seven-year, $70MM extension that cemented him as part of the Athletics’ core as they approach their move to Las Vegas. In the wake of that extension, Wilson’s numbers have dropped to .292/.311/.398 with three home runs in his first 168 PA of the 2026 season.
Both seasons have seen Wilson make about as much contact as any hitter in baseball, though the quality of that contact is quite low, and Wilson also rarely walks. His 3.0% walk rate in 2026 is even lower than his 2025 mark, and he is also striking out more, though his 12K% is still elite. On a more positive front, Wilson’s defensive play has greatly improved — he has -2 Defensive Runs Saved and +4 Outs Above Average, in a big step up from his -10 DRS and -3 OAA in 2025.
This development could be for naught, however, if Wilson is now facing an extended stint on the injured list. Wilson has started all but one of the Athletics’ games at shortstop, with Darell Hernaiz (who replaced Wilson in today’s game) the only other player who has seen any time at the position this season. Hernaiz may be just about the default choice as the shortstop since Max Muncy is also on the IL.
Infielder Michael Stefanic is at Triple-A and has some big league experience, though the A’s would have to add Stefanic to the 40-man roster. Some Athletics fans may be clamoring for the call-up of star prospect Leo De Vries, but that seems unlikely given how De Vries is still just 19 and has 53 games of Double-A ball (and zero Triple-A appearances) on his resume.
In the parity-filled American League, the Athletics’ 21-19 record gives them the AL’s third-best record and top spot in the AL West. Expected to rely on their powerful offense moreso than their shaky pitching, the Athletics’ lineup has more okay than dominant, as huge performances from Tyler Soderstrom, Nick Kurtz, and the surprising Carlos Cortes have papered over a lot of uninspiring starts from other A’s batters. While Wilson’s numbers weren’t spectacular, Hernaiz represents a marked offensive downgrade at shortstop.
